Mixing-valve.



J. 'GRAVES.

MIXING VALVE.

APPLICATION mm OCT. 9. 1915.

Patented Feb. 13,1917.'

ISHEETS-SHEET Ir Jim/525751 k biz/ QI'QLf/GS mon outlet.

-manufacturcd and assembled.

JOHN GRAVES, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCOITSIN.

MIXING-VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

I atented Feb. 13, 1917..

Application filed October 9, 1915. Serial No. 54, 383.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J (iHN Gnavns, a citi which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mixing valves. It relates more particularly to valves for controlling the supply of hot and cold water i to shower baths, bath tubs and the like.

Various valve mechanisms have been de vised for controlling the flow of hot and cold water from separate sources to a com- These niecl'iapisms generally include a. valve for each supply and either separateor common operating means for the mon operating means the valves have been controlled so that when both valves are open each is only abouthalf open.

It is important that a mixing valve be provided controlled by a single operating means which will positively control the alvcs and operate them so that either valve may be gradually opened toits fully open position with the other held closed, and the second valve gradually opened. to its fully open position with the other held fully open and vice versa. It is also important in view of the fact that the supply pipes to bath tubs. basins, etc, are spaced a standard distance apart that a mixing valve be-providcd which may be installed without rcquiringalteration in standard plumbing connections. This valve should be neat. compact and capable of being inexpensively To this end the present invention has been devised.

-()ne of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved mixingvalve controlled by a single operating moans.

' Another object is toprovidc an improved mixing valve which may be readily applied to standard plumbing connections. y

' Another object is to provide a mixing valve having a single operating means ivhich will control the valves 'so that they may be both fully open at the same time. --j

Another object is to provide an improved mixing valve in which the valves are posithe valve parts.

tively operated by a single controlling means.

A further objict is to provide a mixing valve having a nechanism which will operate the valves \vi' hout causing rapid detcrioration thereof.

Another object is to provide a neat,- (1011b pact mixingvalre occupying a minimum space and applic ible to standard plumbing connections.

A further objict is to provide a mixing valve which may be ii'iexpcnsivcly mania lactured and readily assembled.

Other objects and-advantages oi the invention will here nutter appear.

lhc accompan .ing drawings illustrate an embodiment of s: id invention.

"lhe views of said drawings are as fol. lows:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the mire ing valve.

Fig. 2 is a verzical cross-section showing the valves in' closed position and illustrating the operating cams in dotted lines.

' Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-section showing the valves in closed position.

Fig. .4. shows the position of the operating means with 01 ievalve fully open andthe other tightly ClOSId.

Fig. 5 shows nhe operating means with both valves fully open.

.Fig. (3 shows ;he operating means with the second valve fully open and the first tightly closed. I i

Fig. 7 is a separated perspective \lt-HYIJf The mixing vave comprises, in general a housing 1, havi- 1g supply connections 2, valves 3 and at 101' controlling thefsupply connections and a cam operating means-5 mounted on a sha ft 6, controlled by a handle 7 for operating t 1e valve i lhe housing 1 has a central cylindrical portion 8 and tw) spherical extensions on each side thereof. Projecting at right an gles from each cf the spherical portions 8' arc the supply connections 2 \vhicl'rai-o spaced so that they may be connected to standard plumbing connect ons without ;re-

qiiiring alteratioI thereof; .The supply con the central portion of the housing through inlet orts 10 and 11 and they are arranged trolled by the operating shaft.

to contain the valves 3 and 4 for-controlling said ports. The outer ends of the spherical extensions have screw threaded openings therein into which fit suitable plugs 12 which are removable to give access to the valves.

The central portion 8 of the housing incloses the valve operating means and forms a chamber into which the inlet ports open and from which the water is discharged through a common outlet 13. The rear wall of the housingv is provided with'a raised portionhaving a socket 14 therein for re ceiving one end of the operating shaft 6. The opposite'wall of the housing has an opening therein into which fits a screw threaded plug or nut 15, forming a bearing for the operating shaft 6. A suitable cap '16 and washer 17 are arranged on the end of cupies a minimum amount of space and places the outlet connections in such posi tions that the valve may be readily applied as a standard plumbing fixture.

The valves 3 and 4 which control the inlet ports may 'be of any suitable type. Standard Fuller-ball valves are shown having stems 18 and 19, each provided with a slot through which passes the reduced end of the operatin shaft 6. -Each valve stem is provided wit cam surfaces which cooperate with corresponding cam surfaces con- The valve stems are also provided with guiding projections 20 which engage the housing walls along the inlet port to aid in giving the valves a straight-line motion. Straight-line motion is'further insured by having the valve stems offset and by making them of such thickness that they occupy substan-i tially the entire space between the, raised portion of the rear wall of the housing'and a collar 23 on the shaft 6. This construction causes the valves to move. in a straight line and prevents them from being worn out rapidly by being twisted or turned on the valve seats.

The valves are operated by cams 21 and 22 carried by a squared portion of the shaft 6.

Two cams are shown but it should be under stood that the two cams can be made integral or that a larger number of cams can be used. The cams are fitted on the shaft in the relative position shown in Fig. 7.

The cam surfaces are peculiarly shaped to oierate the valves in the desired manner. he surfaces 21" and 22 are substantially arcuate, having the centers of the cam openings as their centers. Consequently during the engagement of these surfaces with their respective valve stems, the corresponding valves remain instationary position. The other cam surfaces are also approximately arcuate but the centers of their radii do not coincide with the centers of the cam openings. Instead, the centers are located so that the cam surfaces approach each other and are rounded off on the opposite side of the cam opening from the surfaces 21 and 22. It is, of course, understood that all the cam surfaces are properly rounded off and merge into one another so that the cams opcrate smoothly.

Each cam cooperates with two surfaces on its corresponding valve stem. These stems are slotted to allow movement thereof rela tive to the operating shaft 6. Each has afront and rear cam surface engaging opposite sides of the cam so that the valves are, positively moved in both directions.

' The operating shaft 6 which carries the cams is journaledin the socket 14 and the nut 15. It has a collar 23 between which and the raisedportion of the opposite side of the housing the valve stems are loosely held. Beyond the collar 23 is a reduced section 24 which passes through the slot in the valve stem 19. This section, may, if desired, be made large enough to form a shoulder for positioning the cam .22. The shaft is squared at 25 to fit corresponding apertures in the cams 21 and 22. The end of the shaft is reduced to fit the socket 14.

The valve operates in the following manner:

With the cams in the position shown in Fig. 2, the highest point on each co-acts with the outer end of its valve stem and maintains both valves tightly closed.

As the shaft is turned through the first quarter turn to'move the cams to the position shown in Fig. 4, the cam 21 moves the valve 3 to open. position while the cam 22 holds the valve 4 closed. This is due to the fact that the distance of the surface of cam 22 in engagement with the outer end of stem 19 from the center of the shaft remains the same while the surface of cam 21 in engagement with the outer end of the valve stem 18 from the center of the shaft becomes less and the distance of the surface of the same cam in engagement with the inner cam surface of the stem 18 from the center of the shaft becomes greater so that the valve' 3 is opened and. the valve 4. held closed.

During the next quarter turn of the shaft the surface of cam 21 in engagement with the inner end of the valve stem 18 remains "'11 Ll. tl'u'mlglil :1 1 all? tu r11 hothl ful.ly h

the eml of Sllltl quarter itt 3 f 19 hecm nws gmztlttr so that the: Wall/(5.4 is; hmlly opened. to lts fully 9pm posrtwill. .uwly W116i], the, hfitIllilllTl h he: 21:1 I J are .thirtl qtutrtr 0f :1 revolution the L limit [11GB 0f the, S'llllt'illiiOlt of cam 21 in m'lgugenlrnt Wltl'. the ix 1 and 01 Valm'stem 18 from the C1511" ter of the shaft hecol'nes less mml the rjlistunue 0f the $1.1 rihlce 0t Ruicl cam in ein 'mgernent Witl'rtl'm outer emyl 0t valve stem 18 from the center 01? the shaft becomes grmit that the valve 3 is grmhmlly 0.10

ml .lt is tip). closed. Ihlrin this; l'llfilril'ltlll, the (ll of th. *1 Sllllfftmt'i! nil mm 5.12 in mm ggjllgelhevrlt the, lllli'lf (and 0f mm 1.9 il'rmu thu shllrli't mm ter 1119111 mt thev same so that the vulva 4-. is held 01mm 1 ll urh' 'tht lfenimil'xillg quarter turn of the sl'mdft tho valve 3 1r; hell]. ulfifiull fhr the, raw son that the distance 011 the surifnm of calm ill. in rnggngm'n it with tlm mrtmr mull wt n 18 ilron'l the (lfilllLlllf l'lill the slmli't rehmlm; thll iiill'lilth At the 515mm thaw r: lvu ---1: he glflltllltllly Eltlk." l. slum, thlil ll'lstmlutl ml the HI ,lll'jfl ml? ,gjzwm'nent 'witlfthe outer and 0t tl'm valve st m from the Limiter of l hectmmt; g1 lmtelu hen the shaft has 111mm :31, mmphilte rewfluticm both val art again t 1? turn will .me time positive the other h The colcl wnlthr it such is mrutrolletl. by the vulvh 3, my thus he fully turl' til rm Without turning on any hot wzttm'. llhlrlng the ntxt ql'll'tjrtllh .rmlutiolil ml the hzuulle the hut Will 1" is t ;rnrl.l1ml.ly 01min. til until. w an t limil'lnlhi: h lb l em] txllrl'ttlll tlflrlimgl l ll. lull. lliltlm'l hotl'l the hrlt :lt'ltl cnhl' m lully (lptn'md. and a n'nmlmum. mixed. Watmr 1' ml he tm cloth 4 he rugged. m .l (JOIlTll'HH'Ift) ll'ltl ll'lCll'lFSWl in a small housing; ml. ,Hlfl that: that tlm tlxturr. nmy he attz'lclmrl to s-ltmntflnnl illljnnl'lhlg ('zonl'wutlmns. his highly "lmpurtul'lt and desirable since the lI-ITJlll-fikl by a. single l1 Mlle movable in Blhl'llill" t0! cl: m tl 01." v llrel W Ilhtn blhl'lOLllTlL 1t (at the mvmltml'l 1llustrt'lt lil l' mu awn two mlet ports and an outlet pm-t. Ll (ltltlltfll t1. htr inlet and outlet 1301 5 may he mud, mmtmlhzll elth by a, singljle pucir ml" valves each at which. =Cl3lt'll1IOlS a. rnmher hf' m'r or by a,

plu lllty of valves azwh cm'ltrolling 0110 0r mm. tlrttt :L htmalng illy mm mtmm n1 Llll'll'ttl to be: 2131')- hmljv 0t will hn'llsl 11g being: lmmtml. limtwuclu'l mull Ellll')]')l V rmnwrtlmm. n. rnlrr. for h mill Valves while the other posi- OWN], to not :1 valve for math l mlrt port #ll'ltl mrnnH chu lwl il fully w en t0 Sill) lqllm'ltly rlusr! murihur hf .4. A mixing valve for controlling the ad mission of fluid from two sources of supply to a common outlet comprising a valve for controlling the flow from each source and means carried by a single shaft to positively open one valve to full open position and positively hold the other closed, to positively open the second valveto full open position vwhile the first is positively'held fully open,

to positively close either of the valves and at the same time hold the other positively fully open, and to positively close the re= maining vah'e while the other is held positively closed, and a housing inclosing said elements adapted to be attached to standard plumbing connections without requiring alteration thereof. I

v5. A mixing valve comprising a housing havingtwo inlet ports and a common outlet, a valve for'each inlet and a cam mechanism controlled by a single handle for positively "operating'said valves in both opening and closing directions to fully open one of them while the other is held closed, to fully open the second valve while the first is held fullyopen, and to close either valve while the other is, held fully open and to close the other valve.

6. A mixing valve adapted to be applied to standard plumbing connections without requiring alterations therein, comprising a. housing havmg inlet ports, valves within said housing forcontrolling said inlet ports and a single operating means for moving said valves in both opening and closing di rections, said means being controlled by a handle movable in either direction to fully open one of said valves while the other is held closed, to fully open the second valve while the first is held open and to close either valve while the first is held'fully open and to close the remaining valve while the other is held closed.

7. A mixing valve for controlling the admission of fluid from two sources of supply to a common outlet comprising a valve for controlling the flow from each source, a cam \carried by a single shaft and cooperating i with the valve stems to move the valves in' both opening and closing directions to posi tively open one valve to fully open position while the other is positively held closed, to positively open the second valve to fully open position while the first is positively held fully open, to positively close the first valve while the second valve is positively held fully open, and to positively close the second valve while the first is held closed inlet ports, a valve for each port and means operated by a single shaft to gradually and positively open one valve to full open position while the other is positively held closed,

to gradually and positlvely open the second a valve to full open position while the first is positively held fully open, to gradually and let, a valve for each inlet port and means carried by a single shaft for positively operating said valves in both opening" and closing directions so that both valves maybe fully opened or tightly closed at the same time or one valve fully open and the other tightly closed.

10. A mixing valve having two inlet ports in substantial alinement, a valve for each port, said valves having stems projecting toward and overlapping each other and a cam cooperating w th the stems of said valves to positive]; move the valves in both opening and closing directions to fully open one valve while. the other is positively held closed. to fully open the second valve while the first is positively held fully open, to posi" tively close either of the valves while the other is positively held fully open and to close the remaining valve while the other is positively held closed.

11. A mixing valve comprising a housing having two inlet ports communicating with a chamber having an outlet, a valve for connections without requiring alterations thereln.

12. A mixing valve comprising a housing having two inlet ports communlcating with a chamber having an outlet, a valve for each port, the stems of said valves projecting into said chamber and having off-set portions which overlap each other so that a straight line motion of the valves is secured, saidv off-set portions having cam recesses therein and cams cooperating with said recesses to move the valves in both opening and closing directions, said cams being operated by a single shaft.

13. A mixing valve comprising, a housing having inlet connections adapted to be applied to standard plumbing connections] without alteration thereof, saidhousing having a chamber located between the inlet connections which conununicates with them through inlet ports, a valve for each inlet, said valves having stems projecting into the ports (injening into a chamber having an outlet, a valve for each port, said valves having stems extending into the chamber and provlded with off-set portions which overlap one another, ca-in recesses Within said off-set portions, cams cooperating with said recesses carried by a single shaft journaled in the Walls of the housing, said valve stems being prevented from moving laterally in one direction by cooperating surfaces on the housing and the operating shaft and being provided with guides to prevent lateral movement in the other direction. so that straight line longitudinal movement of the shaft is insured. and a compact positively operating structure is provided 15. v A mixing valve provided with. two inlet pin-ts and. a. common outlet, a valve for each inlet port, said valves having stems iirovided with-oif-set portions which overlap on i another, cam recessesn said oif-set portions and cams Within said recesses con trolled by a single shaft for positively moving tln lves in both opening and closing (lHBTlOlh-J so that one valve may be moved to full open position 'WllllB the other is held closed, the second moved to full open position While the first is held in full open position, the first closed while the second is held in full open position, and the second closed while the first is held closed.

16. A mixing valve having housing provided with. inlet connections adapted to be applied to standard plumbing-connections without alteration thereof, a chamber between said inlet connections provided with .an outlet, said chamber and inlet connections having communicating openings forming inlet ports a valve for each port, said valves having stems projecting into the chamber which are provided With ofi-set portions which overlap one another so that a straight lino motion of the valves is secured, cam re :esscs in said oif-set portions of the valve so ms, and cam means carried-by a single shaft ind adapted to cooperate with said recesses 10 positively move the valves in both opening and closing directions to fully open om valve While the other is held closed, to fully open the second valve while the first is he] :1 fully open, to close the first valve while t 1e second is held fully 0 on and to close the second valve while the rst is held closed I 17. A mixir g valve having a housing provided was tvo inlet ports communicating with achambi 1- having an outlet, a valve for each inlet port said valves having stems projecting into the chamber and overlapping eachv other, said overlapping portions having recesses in their engaging faces, cams within said :cesses adapted to engage opposite sides tiereoi to positively move-the valvesin hot :1 opening and closing directions, said cams being operated by a single shaft 'journalod in the housing and extending through s ots in the valve stems whereby a compact positively operating structure is provided.

In witness whereof, I have hereuntosubscribed my 11 une.

JOHN onavns. 

